Elena Kalfova

Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski is the first Bulgarian high academic school establishment. Its history is an embodiment and a continuation of the centurylong cultural and educational tradition of the Bulgarian nation. In 1880 the Bulgarian Ministry of Education tabled a draft of the Main Educational Act for the Schools in the Principality of Bulgaria in the National Assembly. It envisaged that “after completing the requirements of the Real and Classical schools to open a Bulgarian high school (a University) that will teach the sciences of law, the arts, the sciences, the medical sciences, and the technological sciences.” In 1887, T. Ivanchev, minister of education, issued an Ordinance for the Opening of a Pedagogy Class Affiliated to the First Male Gymnasium in Sofia. The classes began on 1st. Oct., 1888. On 8th, Dec., 1888 the National Assembly passed an act transforming the latter into a High School; the act was promulgated on 1st, Jan., 1889 with Decree No. 159 published in the Government Gazette. Alexander Teodorov-Balan was elected its first Rector. In the provisional Statute adopted the establishment of a history-philological department was the only one envisaged. During the 1889/1890 academic year the physics-mathematical department was opened, and in 1892 the Faculty of Law was inaugurated. In 1894 a new High School Act was passed and with a decree it was transformed officially into Brothers Evlogiy and Hristo Georgievs from Karlovo Bulgarian University housing three faculties: history-philological, physics and mathematics, and law. From 1918 to 1923 four new faculties were opened: the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry, the Faculty of Theology, The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. In 1938 Sofia University boasts of 7 faculties, 72 institutes, clinics, seminars, a substantial library fund and its own scientific journal. Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski established itself as one of the most prestigious scientific centers on the Balkans. From 1947 to 1952 the National Assembly passed a series of acts which took out faculties and institutes from the structure of the University. Some of them laid the foundations of newly established high academic institutions such as the High Institute of Economics, the Academy of Medicine, the Institute of Veterinary Medicine, the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, still some others are integrated in the structure of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. In the recent years some of these units were reincorporated back into the framework of the University (the Faculty of Theology, the Faculty of Medicine). A new Faculty of Economics and Business Administration was founded. In 2012 the Faculty of Chemistry was transformed into a Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy. In 1900 the Statute of the Library at the High School was adopted. In 1905 the Annual of Sofia University started being published with an official and a scientific part; it included legal acts, bylaws, timetables of lectures and scientific publications by University lecturers. The University Library St. Kliment Ohridski is the first academic and the biggest science library in Bulgaria. In 1925, with the adoption of the Deposit Act it became the third library in the country to receive a free of charge copy of every publication made in the country. Nowadays the University Library possesses a rich multidisciplinary fund that numbers more than 2 510 000 library entries including both scientific literature and study manuals, some rare and valuable publications, well stocked periodicals, e-publications, etc. The incunabula collection is impressively rich, including some very rare and unique publications. Annually more than 20 000 library units are added and more than 30 000 readers avail themselves of its services accessing to more than 340 000 library materials. It offers services using both traditional and modern technologies that create its image as an up-to-date library center of information and education. Its mission is to provide the optimal information access to all its readers, creatively participate in the development of Sofia University and build up information competence in its many users.